Philadelphia Park was located at the town of Bensalem, in Bucks County, in the state of Pennsylvania. It first opened its gates to racing on 4th November 1974 when it was known as Keystone; later on 28th December 1984 it was renamed Philadelphia Park. Six years later it was taken over by Greenwood Racing. It enjoyed the benefit of two tracks, one a mile that was oval in shape, and a turf track of 7 furlongs. Its principal race is the Pennsylvania Derby, a 9 furlong race for 3 year olds first run in 1979, but it also featured the Pennsylvania Oaks for fillies, the Greenwood Cup Stakes and the Cotillion Handicap. Since 30th August 2010 it has become known as Parx Racecourse and Casino and continues to hold well-attended meetings to this day.

Pennsylvania Derby winners since its inception in 1979
1979 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Smarten trained by Woody Stephens and ridden by Sam Maple
1980 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Lively King trained by L Parker jnr and ridden by Chris Baker
1981 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Summing trained by Laz Barrera and ridden by George Martens
1982 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Spanish Drums trained by Anthony Arcodia and ridden by Jacinto Vasquez
1983 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Dixieland Band trained by Charles Peoples and ridden by William Passmore
1984 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Morning Bob trained by Woody Stephens and ridden by Greg McCarron
1985 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Skip Trial trained by Sonny Hine and ridden by Jean-Luc Samyn
1986 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Broad Brush trained by Richard Small and ridden by Angel Cordero jnr
1987 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Afleet trained by Phil England and ridden by Gary Stahlbaum
1988 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Cefis trained by Woody Stephens and ridden by Larry Saumell
1989 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Western Playboy trained by Harvey Vanier and ridden by Kerwin Clark
1990 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Summer Squall trained by Neil Howard and ridden by Pat Day
1991 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Valley Crossing trained by Richard Small and ridden by Andrea Seefeldt
1992 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Thelastcrusade trained by Pam Shavelson and ridden by Victor Molina
1993 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Wallenda trained by Frank Alexander and ridden by Herb McCauley
1994 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Meadow Flight trained by James Ryerson and ridden by Joe Bravo
1995 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Pineing Patty trained by Lynn Whiting and ridden by Larry Melancon
1996 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Devils Honor trained by Walter Reese and ridden by Tony Black
1997 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Frisk Me Now trained by Robert Durso and ridden by Edwin King jnr
1998 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Rock and Roll trained by William Mott and ridden by Herbeto Castillo jnr
1999 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Smart Guy trained by Timothy Ritchey and ridden by Robert Colton
2000 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Pine Dance trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Mike McCarthy
2001 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Macho Uno trained by Joe Orseno and ridden by Gary Stevens
2002 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Harlans Holiday trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Edgar Prado
2003 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Grande Hombre trained by Dennis Manning and ridden by Joe Bravo
2004 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Love of Money trained by Richard Dutrow and ridden by Robby Albarado
2005 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Sun King trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Rafael Bejarano
2006 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was not held
2007 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Timber Reserve trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Javier Castellano
2008 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Anak Nakal trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Joe Bravo
2009 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Gone Astray trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Eddie Castro
2010 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Morning Line trained by Nick Zito and ridden by John Velazquez
2011 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by To Honor and Serve trained by William Mott and ridden by Jose Lezcano
2012 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Handsome Mike trained by Leandro Mora and ridden by Irad Ortiz
2013 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Will Take Charge trained by Wayne Lukas and ridden by Luis Saez
2014 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Bayern trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia
2015 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Frosted trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Joel Rosario
2016 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Connect trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Javier Castellano
2017 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by West Coast trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith
2018 The Pennsylvania Derby over 9 furlongs was won by McKinzie trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith

Course today

The racecourse continues to operate very successfully.

If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.